The sun blazed overhead, and dust floated lazily in the warm air as dozens of Initiates clustered together with their gazes locked on the stone platform where Mistress Eclipse stood tall. She exuded command without effort, and her presence alone silenced the crowd.
"Today marks your first official trial," she declared, her voice ringing out crisp and clear. "You will form groups of three and venture into the Emberwood. Your objective is to hunt a pack of Ember Wolves within your assigned sector. Bring back a fang from each kill as proof."
A ripple of unease passed through the gathered novices. Ember Wolves were no small threat. Known for their ferocity, pack coordination, and resistance to fire, they posed a real challenge for untested Infusers. Rodrigo shifted his weight, feeling the familiar heft of his machete strapped across his back. His fingers twitched, eager for action.
Eclipse's sharp eyes swept over them as she continued. "Teams are set. No changes will be permitted. The Guild evaluates not only your strength but your ability to work with what you're given."
Rodrigo stood still, ears tuned to the roll call. When his name echoed out, his pulse kicked up a notch.
"Rodrigo Mundragon, Lira Veylin, and Tobi Fen. Squad Seven."
He turned his head just as Lira emerged from the throng, her silver whip coiled neatly at her hip. She moved with a quiet assurance, her dark hair catching the sunlight. Tobi, who was the chubby boy, trailed behind her, his round face flushed with nerves, gripping his staff with both hands like it might slip away.
Rodrigo nodded at them. "Looks like we're a unit now."
Lira met his gaze, her expression flat. "Just don't burn us by mistake."
He flashed a lopsided grin. "I'll keep the flames pointed outward."
Tobi let out a shaky laugh, adjusting the canteens slung over his shoulder. "I brought extra water. You know, in case things get too hot."
Less than an hour later, they passed through Havenport's gates and entered Emberwood. The forest was just ahead, and it was a tangled expanse of towering trees with blackened bark in patches, yet vibrant green leaves rustled above. The air was laced with warmth and a faint smoky smell, as if someone smoked some cigarettes nearby.
Red markers staked into the ground led them to their sector. Rodrigo took the lead, machete unsheathed and gleaming faintly in the dappled light. Lira followed close, her steps silent on the forest floor, while Tobi huffed a few paces back, muttering under his breath.
"We stay tight," Rodrigo said, his voice low but firm. "No splitting off. We locate the wolves, take the fangs, and leave."
Lira glanced at him, one eyebrow arched. "You sound like you've led before."
"I have enough experience to know going solo gets you killed," he replied, eyes scanning the trees.
Their wait was short. A deep growl rumbled through the undergrowth, vibrating up through their boots. Two Ember Wolves burst from the shadows, their fur aglow with smoldering embers, eyes like twin coals.
Rodrigo moved first. He lunged forward, swinging his machete in a broad arc. The blade sparked as it struck one wolf's shoulder, forcing the beast back with a sharp yelp. Its fiery gaze locked onto him, undeterred.
Lira acted in the same breath. Her whip cracked through the air, swift and precise, wrapping around the second wolf's hind leg. With a yank, she sent it sprawling into the dirt. It scrambled to rise, but Tobi stepped up, his staff pulsing with a red glow.
"Fire Pillar!" he shouted.
F-boom!
A column of flame erupted beneath the fallen wolf, hurling it skyward.
Rodrigo seized the moment, pivoting to meet the airborne beast. His machete sliced upward, cutting through fire and flesh in one fluid motion.
Shish!
The wolf crashed down, lifeless.
"One gone," he said, catching his breath.
The first wolf circled back, teeth bared in a snarl. Lira spun, her whip lashing out to strike its snout, forcing it to recoil. Tobi thrust his staff forward, unleashing a stream of fire that drove the beast straight into Rodrigo's path.
"End it!" Lira called.
Rodrigo planted his feet. Heat surged through his chest, flowing into his arm. The machete blazed bright, and he swung hard, cleaving through the wolf's neck. It dropped in a heap, embers fading from its fur.
The forest froze. Some birds resumed their chatter high above. The trio stood amid the carnage, chests heaving.
Tobi wiped sweat from his brow. "That… was awful."
"We managed," Rodrigo said, sliding his machete back into its strap. "Could've been smoother, kids."
Lira knelt by the bodies, her knife flashing as she pried out two fangs. "Two isn't enough. Packs don't travel this small."
They pressed onward, senses heightened. After fifteen minutes of cautious trekking, the landscape changed. Burnt patches spread wider across the ground, and claw marks scarred the trees. A den lay ahead, its presence heavy in the air.
Lira's voice dropped to a whisper. "Three o'clock."
Three Ember Wolves prowled into view, their movements synchronized.
"Shit." Rodrigo muttered to himself. "Three more, right? That's perfect."
Not even a second had passed and the wolves attacked. Rodrigo bolted forward, pushing his Strength Essence to his feet without a second thought, and fire ignited beneath his boots with each stride. One wolf wheeled to face him, jaws snapping, but he drove his machete down.
Slash!
The wolf's head was separated from its body.
Lira's whip snaked out, ensnaring a second wolf's legs. Tobi swung his staff, a tight fireball bursting from its tip to slam into the third wolf's flank, knocking it off balance.
"Focus!" Rodrigo yelled.
The wolves recovered, splitting to flank them. Rodrigo barked orders. "Tobi, take left! Lira, right!"
He charged the center wolf, machete flaring with heat. Lira's whip struck like lightning.
"Whipcrackle!" For a faint moment, the whip slapped the wolf at a blinding speed, cracking its ribs with a wet snap. The wolf spat blood, and it fell unconscious by the rapid hit.
Tobi brought his staff down hard, smashing the skull of his target. Rodrigo's blade met flesh and bone, felling the last beast with a decisive slash.
"There. We got five of 'em."
A prickling sensation crawled up his neck, sharp and sudden. His gaze snapped to the treeline beyond the courtyard. Something wasn't right.
"Hey. We've got company," he murmured, standing slowly.
Lira followed his stare, her hand drifting to her whip. Tobi scrambled to his feet, clutching his staff. "What? More wolves?"
Rodrigo shook his head. "No. Not wolves."
A figure emerged from the trees, tall and cloaked in deep gray. The stranger stood still at first, elegant in a way that felt out of place amid the dust and sweat of the Guildhall. His eyes, shadowed beneath the hood, locked onto the trio with an intensity Rodrigo couldn't read.
"Who's that?" Tobi whispered, voice tight.
Rodrigo raised a hand, silencing him. "Don't ask me."
The man stepped closer, his cloak parting to reveal a gold-etched crest on his collar.
Tobi squinted his eyes, only to find out something in the stranger's collar. "Hey. That's… That's the Blissford symbol in his collar."
The Blissford's symbol, a stylized flame cradled by wings. Rodrigo's gut tightened.
"You're a curious one," the stranger said, his voice smooth and measured, like a blade sliding from its sheath. "Your name's Rodrigo, correct?"
Rodrigo nodded, cautious but unflinching. He shifted his stance, placing himself between the man and his squad. "That's me. Who're you?"
The stranger's lips twitched, not quite a smile. "Good day. I'm a recruiter. I came to watch the trial, but my purpose goes beyond observation. I scout potential. You've got something rare. It's rough around the edges, yet pretty powerful."
Rodrigo felt the machete on his hip just pulse, a faint thrum against his senses. Heat flared in his chest, syncing with the blade's rhythm. He kept his expression steady, unwilling to show surprise.
The recruiter tilted his head, studying him. "You wield fire as if it's woven into your bones. I've witnessed that gift only once before. Blissford could refine it. I'm offering you a place with us. Our methods surpass Havenport's crude drills. Trust me."
Rodrigo's fingers tightened briefly, a flicker of irritation rising. "You're asking me to ditch this place? Just walk away?"
"Not ditch," the man corrected, his tone calm. "Advance. We can forge you into something greater than you've imagined."
From the forest's edge, Mistress Eclipse watched, half-hidden in the shadow of a pillar. She'd spotted the recruiter slipping into the woods earlier, but her arrival had been too late to disturb. Her jaw clenched, hands balling into fists. She stayed silent, but her eyes burned with something not spoken.
The recruiter stepped forward, pressing a silver token into Rodrigo's palm. It was cold, heavier than it looked, engraved with the Blissford crest. "Consider it, Rodrigo," he said.
"That machete you carry isn't ordinary. Blissford can unlock your powers and your secrets. If you're interested, come to Blissford, just north of here. You'll know it when you see it. Flash this token at the guards, and they'll treat you like royalty. They'll lead you to our quarters, where you'll be granted with what you want and need."
"Wait—" Before Rodrigo could respond, the man turned, his cloak swirling as he melted back into the trees. The movement was fluid, almost unnatural, leaving only silence in his wake.
Rodrigo stared at the token, its edges biting into his skin. The weight of it felt like a pull toward something he didn't trust.
Lira broke the quiet, her voice low. "Do you believe him?"
"No," Rodrigo said, tucking the token into his pocket beside the locket. "But I'm sure he's got knowledge we don't." He glanced at her, then Tobi. "What about you two?"
Lira frowned, crossing her arms. "Too slick. I don't like people who talk in riddles."
Tobi shifted his staff, uneasy. "Well, Blissford's got a reputation. They have fancy training, big promises. But they're picky. Why you?"
Rodrigo grunted. "Well… I guess I made an impression..?" He picked up his machete, slinging it over his shoulder. The blade's warmth pressed against his back, a quiet reminder of the fight. "Let's move. No point standing around."
They collected the fangs, ten in total, since these wolves had two for each.
Back at the Guildhall, dusk painted the courtyard in soft oranges and purples. Eclipse waited at the platform, and her expression was unreadable as Squad Seven approached. Rodrigo dropped the sack of fangs at her feet, the clatter of bone against stone breaking the stillness.
"Five kills," Rodrigo said neutrally, meeting her gaze.
Eclipse turned her attention to the fangs, then back to the trio. "You exceeded the requirement. Sloppy in places, but effective. Strength carried you, Rodrigo. Lira, your precision held the line. Tobi, your support tipped the balance."
Rodrigo wiped sweat from his brow, the heat in his chest settling. "We got it done."
"You did," Eclipse agreed. "Rest tonight. Tomorrow, we review and refine. Dismissed."
The trio shuffled toward the dorms, exhaustion tugging at their limbs. Tobi muttered something about needing a bath, while Lira walked in silence, whip swaying at her hip. Rodrigo trailed behind, machete slung over his shoulder.